The Warrenton Board of Aldermen voted unanimously at their meeting Oct. 21 to deny a rezoning request and planned unit development site plan for The Woodlands at Pinckney Ridge subdivision, citing that a substantial number of proposed lots did not comply with city code.

The Woodlands project, which is being developed by Rolwes Company, was proposed to consist of 112 single-family homes on a grand total of 53.6 acres, of which 19.5 acres would be preserved as common ground. Aldermen denied the measure at their Oct. 21 meeting.

According to Warrenton Director of Planning and Development Tim Burks, Rolwes submitted the site plan under a planned unit development (PUD) so that they could request a deviation from the city’s residential zoning requirements that lots be a minimum 10,000 square feet. Burks told the board that 69 lots of the 112 proposed do not meet the city’s code requirement. He said the request before the board was a deviation to allow a minimum 8,000 square foot lot for the site plan.

Following Burks’ presentation Mayor Eric Schleuter immediately asked Burks why the proposal was even being submitted to the board if it didn’t meet the city’s code.

Burks explained that under a PUD the developer is allowed to request deviations from the city’s code.

Rolwes Company Director of Development Adam Baer and Jeff Moon with Bax Engineering then made a presentation in support of the project.

Moon said the property is currently zoned for agriculture but that Rolwes was seeking a zoning change to R-3 residential.

Moon said that only 25 percent of the lots proposed are less than 9,000 square feet, with 43 lots between 9,000 and 10,000 square feet. He said the reason for the smaller lots is that they would be narrow, but would allow for backyards.

Baer said the reduction in the lot size would result in at least $10,000 off the cost of the lot, which would ultimately be a savings for a homeowner. He said that recent trends show a need for more affordable housing and this request for a smaller lot size was in support of creating more affordable housing.

Alderman Roger Romaker asked Baer and Moon if they were to actually design the site plan to code requirements how many house sites would they lose, to which Moon responded 10-12.

Schleuter told Baer and Moon that no developer has submitted a site plan under a PUD, but have done so under the normal zoning code. He then asked the two men if they had been to meetings where members of the public have told city leaders they don’t want to see houses stacked on top of each other.

Baer reiterated that the primary goal is affordability.

Alderman Larry Corder said that the city is at the beginning of potential large growth. He told Baer and Moon that he opposed allowing them to request a deviation through a PUD, noting that it would set a precedent every builder would want to follow.

Romaker also commented that proceeding with the proposed site plan would give Rolwes an advantage over other builders.

Ultimately the board voted 6-0 against the rezoning request and site plan.